Howls in the park (Part Three)
#3 of Howls in the park
The tension in the apartment became unbearable as the two sat in silence. Luke made coffee for them. The sounds of the spoon hitting the inside rim of the cups echoed through the entire apartment. He walked over to Lyra and placed the coffee down in front of her.
"So anyway. Thanks for everything you did. There is honestly no way I could ever repay you." She said while keeping her eyes down on her cup of coffee while she pulled it closer towards her. "I guess I will catch a cab and get out of your hair."
"Don't be silly" Luke replied "I will walk you home. Just to make sure you get there safely."
Luke and Lyra proceeded out of the apartment. After Luke locked the door, they proceeded down the gloomy corridor. Lyra - having been passed out that night, couldn't believe the difference between the condition of Luke's apartment compared to the rest of the building. Out here, the walls where cracked and old paint was flaking off all over. As they reached the ground floor, Lyra heard a tiny body running behind them.
"LUKE... LYRA! WAAAIT!" the boy came bolting down the stairs after them. Oliver was in such a rush he could barely keep his footing.
"Where are you guys going? Can I come? Pleeeaaase?"
"Woah Oliver. You can't just come with us. It isn't safe." Luke said with an annoyed tone.
"Aw come on Luke. I will stick close I promise... I want to come with." The boy replied tugging at Luke's pants
"Fine... Fine... But only if your foster mother will let you."
"I already asked. She said yip!" Oliver said smiling up at Luke.
"Of course you did... Sneaky bastard." Luke sighed and rolled his eyes. As much as Oliver tended to annoy him, he had a soft spot for the kid.
Oliver quickly ran in front of Luke and grabbed Lyra's hand. Holding on to her with both his small hands he said "Don't worry miss. I will protect you."
Lyra laughed as the three of them walked out into the street. Lyra pointed in the direction they needed to go and off they went. Most of the journey up to now was still spent in awkward silence. Only Oliver would break it when he ran off chasing something and giggling causing Luke to shout and run after him. They started to leave the lower side of the city. The buildings began to appear less worn out. There were no broken windows or cracked walls. There were no doors hanging on one hinge or street art all over. Not to mention the amount of dodgy looking characters loitering around the streets began to diminish. Luke became more uneasy as they went along. This was now a world he found unfamiliar. Here he was an alien. He was never good at abiding by societies rules and regulations. The rich always looked down on him and tended to judge without taking the time to learn his back story.
"My father's house is just through this park, I can go alone from here." Lyra said pulling her hand from Oliver.
"NO!" Oliver shouted. "We will take you the whole way" As they walked through the park, Oliver's eyes began to sparkle. A clean park with flowers and fields was magic to him. He had never been exposed to the simple joys most children had. Nothing could wipe the smile off his face at that time, he was completely bewildered by this magnificent view. Oliver once again tugged on Luke's pants.
"Promise me we will come back to this place Luke. I like it here."
"Sure thing kiddo. I promise." Luke blankly replied. His attention was more focused on other matters. For the past three or four kilometres, Luke couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched or followed. He kept peering behind him but couldn't distinguish anything.
Once they made it through the park, on the adjacent side of the road stood an enormous building. Easily twenty stories high. The building was covered in mirrored glass. At the huge door way stood a man who opened it for anyone who passed by.
"Well this is it" Lyra said "Thanks for everything."
"Don't mention it" Luke shyly said. He was almost intimidated by the building.
"WOW! You live here? You must be super rich Lyra." Oliver blabbed as he stared at the enormous structure.
"Well not really. My father is rich. But that doesn't mean I am... Here Oliver, Take this." She bent down and unclipped the necklace she was wearing. The necklace was silver, with a crescent moon pendant on the end with her initials engraved on the back.
"Consider it payment for protecting me" she smiled while putting it around Oliver.
"Thanks Lyra. This is the best thing anyone has given me. And it isn't even my birthday until next month."
Lyra stood up and hugged Luke. Thanking him again for everything. She then crossed the street toward the building - waving as she did. The door man as well as six or more other staff members ran over when they saw Lyra coming. With her attention now taken by the crowd suffocating her - Luke took Oliver's hand.
"Come on kid. Time to get back to where we belong."
Oliver quietly followed. He was too preoccupied staring at the pendant Lyra had given him. The entire trip back, Luke couldn't help but feel stalked. He felt like a helpless prey animal on the savannah that knew there was a lion in the bushes behind it and yet couldn't do anything to escape it's fate.
The sun had already begun to set by the time that Luke and Oliver had managed to make their way back to the old apartment complex. Luke quickly ushered Oliver inside the front door. He still had the uneasy feeling of being watched. He Picked Oliver up and placed him on top of his shoulders, Running up the stairs as fast as he could. Loud chuckles were expelled from Oliver's mouth as he bounced up and down on Luke's shoulders. It was amazing how this boy would always smile, not matter the situation. Finally making it to Oliver's apartment, Luke lifted Oliver off his shoulders and placed the small boy in front of him.
"Say Luke. Do you think we will ever see Lyra again?" Oliver asked. Peering at Luke with the never ending smile, which extended nearly from ear one ear to the other.
"Who knows kid... We come from different worlds. Spots and stripes... Spots and stripes. " The look on Luke's face had become dull. Almost as if it hurt him to say those words.
"Don't worry Luke. I know you will see her again. No matter what, I will make sure you guys do." Luke patted Oliver on his head. The kid really had a unique outlook on life. He saw everything in a positive light, completely the opposite to Luke.
"Night kid. Hurry on and go inside. You have been away from home too long... Knowing the old woman, dinner is almost ready."
Just as Luke turned to walk away the door opened and Oliver ran in. As Luke reached the stairway a few seconds later he heard the small voice of the old woman coming from behind him.
"Oh hello there Luke. Thank you for taking Oliver out today, He is already telling my jack all about the park."
""It was no problem at all ma. How is Old Jack doing?' Luke asked, turning to give the old lady his full attention.
"Honestly, he could be better. But as frail as he is getting in his age, he still has a fighter's spirit. Say, won't you come in and join us for dinner? It would mean a lot to Oliver."
"I'm sorry ma but I have to decline. I have something I need to do. " Luke replied. His one hand gripping his other arm by the elbow. Almost ashamed of having to turn down the old woman.
"Oh okay... Well don't worry sweetie, maybe next time." The old woman smiled as she turned and walked back into her home. The door slowly closing behind her until it locked into place with a loud click.
Luke turned around and continued to climb the two flights of stairs toward his apartment. The staircase flashed as the lights flickered on and off. The landlord couldn't be bothered to fix anything thing electrical in the building. The only thing that would motivate them is if the problem could shut down the building. And even then, the repair was poorly done. Finally making it to his apartment, Luke shuffled around his jean pocket to find his house key. Finally finding what he was looking for, Luke proceeded to slip the key into the lock and turn it clockwise until the door unlocked. Slowly opening the door, Luke was hit by the smell of stale air quickly escaping through the door way. He walked in slamming the door behind him. He walked straight toward the kitchen. Dropping his house keys on the counter top, he proceeded toward the fridge. Winging the door open, he went straight for a beer. Luke closed the fridge and dropped on the couch; the springs creaking as his dead weight landed on the cushions. He scratched his head. He was physically and mentally drained from the previous day's events. Placing his cold beer on the coffee table, Luke took his shirt off and turned the television onto the news channel before picking the chilled bottle again and pressing it to his lips. With a sigh he dropped his head back over the top of the couch.
"I wonder if I will ever see her again....Lyra" Luke was now confused. His life style was quite fanatic. He would hook up with a multitude of random women and never feel a thing. Yet he couldn't stop thinking about the one he didn't do anything with. The sound of the news anchor began to slowly fade as Luke began to fade off. His mind wandering about this girl he barely knew.